2005 in Film

            2005 is finally over, and with  it passes one of the most significant years for film in recent history.  The big movie news of the year was the low box office.  Between sagging studio profits and the focus on piracy, it's no wonder that the indie films reigned supreme this year, triumphing over nearly every studio production.  In that respect, movie pirates and those who are sick of paying $7 for a two-hour car chase sprinkled with one-liners have vastly influenced the future of cinema.  Studios are realizing that they are no longer the aristocrats of film they once were, and as the awards season begins, the studios are quickly getting introduced to reality as Munich, King Kong, and Walk the Line remain the only mainstream movies even remotely within grasp of awards, and based on the Director's and Writer's Guild Nominations, it looks like none of the above will be up for the ultimate entertainment award, the coveted Oscar.  The Weinstein revolution against Disney is just a microcosm of the larger indie revolt (and I am now obliged to comment that I feel so edgy and street for talking about the indie scene).

            But seriously, to quote Ralph Fiennes from the Chumscrubber, "There is a power at work here," and out of the ashes of Miramax comes the new generation of independent film studios, the Weinstein Company, Lion's Gate, New Market, Focus Features, and Sony Pictures Classic.  The future of film looks great for lovers of quality cinema.  Studio execs will have no choice but to nix the next Jessica Alba movie and instead take a risk on a black and white modern noir.  If not, they will continue to lose out on awards and the according moolah (the only language they speak), and though they will still have their occasional blockbusters, they will make nowhere near as much money as they once did.  The box office is down, my friends, and whether this is a backlash against high ticket prices, commercials in theaters, or just the crap they try to market as film, one thing remains clear:  small, smart, well-acted gems are the future of cinema. 

            That said,  2005 was an excellent year for film.  Last year, I'd say my top 5 were good, but of the awards contenders, only two appealed to me.  This year, I have about six or seven frontrunners I'm pushing, and my top 20 are quite excellent.  In fact, though last year saw Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, and the Aviator winning every top award, this year I have seen Munich, Brokeback Mountain, Crash, Syriana, The Squid and the Whale, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, King Kong, even Hustle and Flow topping various lists.  Also, whereas last year was the year of biopics and anti-epic sentiment, this is the year of indie films and gay movies.  Finally, before beginning the list, I would like to point out the prevalence of violence in this year's movies, resulting from prejudices or global politics or simply desperation.  Honestly, I think I was shocked more by the violence in Capote and Munich and Brokeback and Crash and Syriana than movies from any other year ever.  But that's the topic for another essay.  Just try and pay attention the violence as you read the list, and think about what that means about our society. 

And now, I present, my ranked list of 2005 in movies, with a standard deviation of 2 places.  But I would suggest not reading about a movie you haven't seen, because I have been fairly loose with spoilers.   

3-8-06  UPDATE:  I added the movies I've seen since posting (Mrs. Henderson Presents, Transamerica, Breakfast on Pluto, Match Point, The Great Raid, The Aristocrats, Everything is Illuminated, Thumbsucker, The New World, Hustle and Flow, Bee Season, Tsotsi), but I must warn you.  Please don't read about them until you've seen the movies, because in Mrs. Henderson Presents, for instance, I give away the only plot spoiler/secret of the movie.  Also, I moved Star Wars up, because I honestly don't know what I was thinking putting it at #26, and after several re-viewings, I have moved Munich up a notch. 

Space, Cowboys, Space Cowboys, Gay Cowboys, Film Noir, Geopolitics, Harry Potter, and Batman:  The Year of the Brandon

61:  Bewitched--The best thing about this movie was getting to see the trailer for Rent...but Nicole Kidman, Michael Caine, and Will Ferrell can all be forgiven for their participation in this movie. 

60:  The Interpreter--Not a good year for Nicole Kidman...especially after dropping out of the sequel to Dogville.  Still, this occasionally interesting movie is at worst mediocre, and Sean Penn and Kidman can make anything worth a viewing--but not repeats. 

59:  Four Brothers--I kinda liked it, but these characters clearly live in a quasi-reality that is slightly more accepting of random crimes in the name of revenge.  At least Garrett Hedlund was in it--that, and the shootout at their house along with the crazily thrown together ending plan were undeniably entertaining. 

58:  The Wedding Date--This would have been the worst movie on the list had Dermot Mulroney not been in it.  And I remember laughing a few times. 

57:  The Great Raid--Don't waste your time.  Benjamin Bratt is officially an awful actor.  James Franco, Connie Nielsen and others do pick up the slack, and the look of the film is incredible, but overall, it's just boring.  And then of course you have those completely unrealistic war movie lines that are necessary to the worse films of the genre.  If you want a war movie from this year, watch Jarhead.  If you want a war movie about the Pacific theater of WWII, check out the Bridge on the River Kwai.  Avoid this one at all costs. 

56:  Bee Season--Disappointing.  Decent story, but it definitely could have been pulled together better. 

55:  The Island--Honestly, I really enjoyed this one.  The good:  Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson....oh, and Steve Buscemi.  The bad:  Michael Bay and the execs who tried to blame their poor marketing on the performances of the actors.  The ugly:  The incredibly entertaining western shootout at the train station.  Gotta love westerns! 

54:  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--I doubt I'll ever see this again, but I still enjoyed it, it's just that I've now seen it three times, and only one of them was voluntary.  Unlike some, I enjoyed the oompa-loompas, Johnny Depp was hilarious, and Mrs. Beauregard ruled.  However, I have to say, the original was just better, and I'll take it any day. 

53:  Casanova--Don't judge me.  I thought Casanova was fairly entertaining.  Heath Ledger's believable as Casanova, and in all, I don't think the plot was too contrived.  Until the ending.  But overall, decent work all around.  Oliver Platt's hilarious.  Jeremy Irons seemed kind of cartoonish, but that's probably what they were going for.  However, I do knock the movie for giving them British accents just because it's set in Europe--Venice, to be more specific--which makes little sense. 

52:  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy--I can't believe how much people hated this.  I thought it was pretty funny.  And I really like all of the actors involved.  The best part:  Marvin the Paranoid Android.  That, and frankly, I love the British humor.  Excuse me, humour. 

51:  Walk the Line--Probably the most overrated of all the big awards frontrunners.  Every good movie has a message or a purpose.  To the makers of Walk the Line, I ask, "Why was this necessary?"  What, even, were the prevalent themes?  I argue that this was simply an attempt to live off the coattails of biopic legends Ray and Kinsey.  Still, Joaquin Phoenix rocked in his singing, and Reese Witherspoon outshined everyone as June Carter Cash.  But if they expect me to rewatch it, they're gonna have to trim it down. 

50:  The Chumscrubber--Disappointingly mediocre.  It really seemed like a pitiful attempt to be Donnie Darko, which was a lost cause.  Still, at least this one had a message, and one that I generally agree with.  Additionally, the characters did a great job at being interesting enough for me to care about what happened, especially Glenn Close and Jamie Bell and Ralph Fiennes. 

49:  The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe--Overall, I kinda wish this hadn't been made, because now I'm gonna have to sit through 6 more of these.  And this first one just wasn't as great as it could have been.  My favorite characters were the Beavers and Peter, but Edmund and Lucy were excellent as well.  Oh, and Tumnus too.  In fact, there was a lot I liked about this, I just felt that it could have been a lot better and it felt long to me. 

48:  Sky High--Now there's a kid's movie that entertains.  Katie'd probably include this in her top 10.  It was definitely good and fun and funny, but as with all movies aimed at a young demographic, is completely predictable and extremely overt in its plot developments and foreshadowing.  Still, you could do a lot worse than Sky High. 

47:  The Aristocrats--I loved it, but I hated it.  The idea was hilarious, and seeing all the different variations, like a how-to guide on humor, was technically fun, but as a movie it got old around the 45-minute mark.  Still, I really enjoyed a lot of the comedians, especially Bob Saget's hilarious version and Sarah Silverman's take on the joke as if it were about her family.  Oh, and Jason Alexander telling it as if it were a show he went and saw. 

46:  Hustle and Flow--I'd be curious to know how the rest of you would rank this one.  Overall, it's not a bad movie by any means, but it's not a great one, either.  Actually, I liked the realistic depiction of pimps/prostitutes.  I also liked that ending message, I guess, where he says he would lie to his little girl if she asked him if she could be president.  I agree that the "anything's possible" credo is only true in an ideal world.  But overall, it just wasn't that entertaining.  But at least it earned an Oscar instead of Munich or Good Night and Good Luck. 

45:  The Brothers Grimm--I really enjoyed this one, and Heath Ledger surprised me with his performance in particular.  Also, the fantastical stuff was great, particularly the witch's tower, the fairy tale references, and the ending. 

44:  Manderlay--Frankly, this was no Dogville.  Where Dogville was subtle and nuanced, Manderlay was blunt and obvious.  Also, I seriously hope they yank Bryce Dallas Howard from the final installment, because Nicole Kidman was a thousand times better as Grace.  Still, as in Dogville, this one is not afraid to introduce controversial or provocative questions about America, and I'm still interested in finding out where Grace ends up in the finale. 

43:  In Good Company--It's been a while since I've seen this, but I remember it being cute, well-acted, and funny.  I'd like to see it again to review, but at worst, it would just move back two spots. 

42:  Breakfast on Pluto--Too long.  If it had been about half an hour shorter, it would have been exceptional, probably even better than Transamerica.  But it sadly drug on.  Still, Cillian Murphy is phenomenal, and sadly got the shaft in a year of several great performances.  Additionally, the 70s music is used exceptionally well, and Liam Neeson heads up the terrific supporting cast. 

41:  War of the Worlds--Spielberg knows how to do action, and this is no exception.  I don't know why the critics didn't like it, because I loved the Tim Robbins interlude, which seemed to be the main complaint.  Also, Dakota Fanning and Tom Cruise and Robbie were all pretty cool, and the only thing that would have made it better would have been humanity being destroyed.  Sorry for ruining it, but the movie runs largely on its immediate plot points, not the overall outcome. 

40:  Tsotsi--This story of a crime lord in South Africa who seeks a better life is no Crash nor City of God, two superior films it evokes.  However, it is still a well-produced movie, even if its attempts at sentimentality left me cold.  Frankly, almost every movie above it touched me in the way that Tsotsi tries, and sadly, fails. 

39:  Me and You and Everyone We Know--Indie movies are overrated, particularly this year.  This is the most overblown one.  It's good, maybe even great, but not perfect.  Still, it isn't right to focus on the bad, because I did really like this movie.  It isn't the most realistic, but the characters, though flawed, somehow manage to become endearing.  Not only that, but there are some absolutely hilarious moments, especially involving the little boy and his online encounters.  Additionally, he's such a cute little boy, it's hard not to love him.  Overall, it was an excellent, if flawed, movie, but you could do a lot worse. 

38:  The 40 Year-Old Virgin--I thought this one was hilarious.  Steve Carell is just awesome, and so is Paul Rudd.  Not particularly great, but still wonderfully entertaining. 

37:  Thumbsucker--Surprisingly decent, but not great.  Still worth checking out if you like any of the actors or are just looking for a decent 2005 indie to watch, but not necessary. 

36:  The Wedding Crashers--Hilarious, my favorite character is of course the artsy son with the greatest line:  "Would that make you love me?"  Not sure yet if I really like this one or 40 Year-Old Virgin better, but we'll see, in time. 

35:  Mr. and Mrs. Smith--Awesome, hilarious, and starring Adam Brody and Brad Pitt.  Oh, and Angelina.  The shootouts were always entertaining, and I had a good time watching this movie.  Nuff said. 

34:  The Family Stone--Don't write this off as a home for the holidays piece or a family movie or a romantic comedy.  The acting is top-notch, led by Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams and even Sarah Jessica Parker.  Craig T. Nelson and Luke Wilson and Dermot Mulroney lead the men of the family, and each have wonderful moments.  This is a movie about characters, and a realistic one, at that.  Nowadays, that's something that can't be underrated.  It was funny at times, but never as funny as it was emotionally engaging.  It's predictable and occasionally cliché, but at the end of the day, I was sad that I didn't get to spend more time with the Family Stone. 

33:  Elizabethtown--Screw critics, Elizabethtown was awesome.  Granted, I wish Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst had been dropped for better actors, but that never took away from the overall entertainment of the movie.  Cameron Crowe's music rocks, and unlike the pretentious critics, I loved the road trip, in part because that map was incredible.  I even loved Susan Sarandon's tap dance scene, in part because Moon River is one of the most emotional movie themes ever.  In all, don't let anyone decide whether or not you will like Elizabethown.  You may not enjoy it, but at least you took the journey yourself. 

32:  An Unfinished Life--The only thing I didn't like about this was the lifetime movie feel of JLo's storyline.  Other than that, the movie was highly engaging.  Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman were amazing as always.  JLo was even good.  I'd love to see it again, if you want to watch it some time. 

31:  Everything is Illuminated--This is the story of Elijah Wood, a collector of many things, mostly random items relating to his genealogy, travelling to East Europe with a tour company he read about that turns out to be a fairly unprofessional family deal wherein a young man with delusions of coolness is his translator, an often shabby one, and his grandfather, who thinks he's blind and has a seeing-eye bitch named Sammy Davis, Jr., Jr., is his driver.  Wood is searching for the family of the woman who sheltered his grandfather during the Holocaust in order to repay her.  However, this is merely one story of many.  As the cultures come together, each character is forced to compromise and try new things, and each learns from the experience.  This is truly a very good movie, but one that I could understand leaving some people untouched. 

30:  The Matador--This is an interesting venture for the Weinstein Company, with Pierce Brosnan playing a hit man who meets Greg Kinnear's businessman in Mexico and forming an interesting friendship.  It's fairly hilarious throughout, and the tone changes are often and immediate.  I can't say too much without giving much away, but this is a pretty good movie.

29:  Cinderella Man--Wonderful acting all around.  Too long for my tastes, but highly enjoyable nonetheless.  My favorite boxing movie, hands down.  Still, I don't think I'll rewatch this one, mostly based on the length, partially based on my lack of interest in the subject matter.

28:  Mrs. Henderson Presents--As I said above, I'm about to give away the only secret in the entire movie, so I would suggest not reading this until you've seen it.  Judi Dench was fantastic in this movie, and I wholeheartedly support her nominations as Best Actress.  And once again, I am blown away by movies I don't expect much from.  The best parts about this movie are what I noticed as the political commentaries.  Obviously there were messages against puritanical views of nudity and sexuality, but that was to be expected.  But the best part is when you find out that Mrs. Henderson lost a son in the war, and then at the end, she proceeds to give a rousing speech about how every child lost in war, no matter what they say, died in vain, because there will be more wars and more sons lost.  I'm always a fan of the politically-minded movies, and this one surprised me a lot.  I'd love to see this again with you, because Judi Dench was hilarious. 

27.  The Squid and the Whale--Not very rich on explanation, but then, neither is a divorce to young children, The Squid and the Whale is a superbly well-written tale of how everyone involved deals with divorce.  There's the petty father using his children as pawns in a chess match and there's the overly sensitive mother who begins dating her children's tennis coach quickly after her affair finishes off a marriage that began disintegrating years before when her latent writing talent soon surpassed her husband's lifelong ambitions.  And then, of course, there's the kids, both devastated, whether they know it or not, and both obviously turning to alternative sources in place of their family.  But in the end, they are all a family, and will continue to be so for their entire lives, as the ending shows without really providing an ending for the story.  Expertly written and acted, especially by Jeff Daniels, Noah Baumbach is a filmmaker, but especially a writer, to watch. 

26:  Transamerica--Felicity Huffman gives, and this is one of the few times I have ever used this word, a tour de force in Transamerica.  Playing a man who wants to become a woman, but must first see to a child she had as a man and just learned of, Huffman gives a heartbreakingly sincere performance, one that even earned her a BMA.  The whole movie, though, is fairly good all the way through, if slightly predictable, and it really affected me, especially when that little kid asks if she's a man or a woman.  How many times have any of us wondered that about people?  Some people actually struggle with that, and that just got to me.  Transamerica makes me want to be a better person, seriously. 

25:  Star Wars Episode III:  Revenge of the Sith--Best of the prequels, indeed, the most affecting of the prequels.  The Jedi massacre was surprisingly emotional, and the scene where Padme stares into the sunset as Anakin goes to visit Palpatine was equally as powerful.  Not only that, but most of the fights were wonderful.  In all, I loved this movie, and it is now my third favorite Star Wars movie. 

24:  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire--Not my favorite Harry Potter movie, because I think the studio is way too involved with the creative process on the Harry potter series.  They should have made a long movie that included all the relevant parts and characters to lead to the Order of the Phoenix movie well and still introduce and solve the current mystery.  That said, it was a heck of an entertaining movie, just barely out of my top 20.  The adult acting was great all around, although, I liked Dumbledore better in Prisoner of Azkaban...I feel like he thinks Dumbledore is more eccentric than all-knowing, whereas I kinda like the quasi-omnipotent Dumbledore better.  The fact that this movie handled about 20 characters better than most can handle four or five is also quite telling, and the high-speed pace of Goblet of Fire made the two and a half hours fly by. 

The Illustrious Land of Top Twenty-two-dom

23:  North Country--Not the lifetime Moment of Truth movie one might expect.  Actually, I thought the story was very interesting.  I really cared about the characters, and it's pretty scary that the first successful women's sexual harassment suit happened in 1984.  Charlize Theron was good, but Frances McDormand deserves the acting awards from this movie.  I'm biased in her favor because I love her, but still, she played a strong woman with Lou Gehrig's disease, and she was amazing. 

Underrated:  Women
Overrated:  Minnesota
Favorite character:  Glory--Frances McDormand
Favorite scene:  When Papa Theron finally stood up for his daughter at the union meeting.  Way to turn an asshole into my second favorite character from the movie. 

22:  The Proposition--Basically a beautifully-shot Sam Peckinpah violent action-western, The Proposition tells the story of a gang of four Irish brothers in the Australian bush who are split up, half captured by a military man and the other half retreating to their home, a cavern in the Australian hills.  The captured brothers are then given a proposition:  if older brother Guy Pearce can find and kill the gang leader, his older brother, then both he and his younger brother, who will be taken as a hostage, will receive pardons.  What follows is a gritty tale of loyalty, family, and honor that makes other modern westerns like Tombstone and Open Range look clean.  With a supporting cast of Danny Huston, Ray Winstone, David Wenham, Emily Watson and John Hurt in a brilliant performance as a bounty hunter, The Proposition is a cool addition to the western genre. 

Underrated:  I'm gonna go ahead and go with westerns, on the grounds that even I avoided them for a while
Overrated:  North Country by me, so I moved it down. 
Favorite character:  John Hurt by far!
Favorite scene:  When Guy Pearce meets John Hurt at the bar for the first time.  Both are incredible. 

21:  Rent--I am very glad to include Rent in my top 22, because of the amount of time I have spent watching, listening to, and acting out Rent.  Despite its flaws--Mark's general mediocrity, the lack of singing Christmas Bells, Halloween, or all of Goodbye, Love, and all the changes that made it less realistic--I still love it and have seen it twice in theaters.  The songs are catchy, the acting is generally great, and I will certainly own it on DVD.  Did I actually like it more than Harry Potter, though?  Yes, yes, I did.  Both were lesser movies than their original media, but Rent stayed with me a lot longer, probably not just because of the movie, but still. 

Underrated:  Taye Diggs
Overrated:  Calling this movie "past its time"
Favorite character:  Mimi--Rosario Dawson
Favorite scene:  It's so hard to pick just one.  Probably my favorite part of the movie was the one that was translated best from stage to film, and that would be Without You.  Mimi going through withdrawal and having an off-on relationship with Roger, while Angel slowly succumbs to AIDS was definitely the emotional clincher of the movie.  The other songs that I liked better on the screen were I'll Cover You, Santa Fe, and Out Tonight, because Rosario Dawson is the perfect Mimi. 

20:  Serenity--Serenity is definitely a flawed movie, and one that didn't even completely fulfill my expectations.  Like any of that mattered.  It was such a pleasure to get to see Firefly resurrected on the big screen, and Serenity was an excellent continuation of the story.  I was overcome with happiness when I got to see the Firefly characters again, and now I can only hope that there will be more.  There supposedly existed a three-picture deal depending on the profits from Serenity, and there were also rumors of the Sci-Fi channel picking up Firefly for a miniseries.  Either way, I'm just glad that Serenity was such a hilarious, high-paced movie that continued the story of some of my favorite characters. 

Underrated:  Wash!!!!
Overrated:  Jayne
Favorite character:  Malcolm Reynolds--Nathan Fillion
Favorite scene:  Definitely not the one with Wash just after they landed.  Hmm...  Probably Kaylee saying, "Been more'n a year since I had somethin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries." 

19:  A History of Violence--This is one of the most overrated movies of the year.  It's great, but not the best, and I read somewhere that more critics have given History of Violence their #1 than any other movie.  That said, I really enjoyed it.  Viggo Mortensen was awesome, and when he first said, "I should have killed you back in Philly," I got shivers.  I was so on his side, I didn't want to believe that Ed Harris and co. were right.  I think the sex scenes were necessary, I didn't think it was too violent, and I thought most of the acting was of a very high caliber.  Except for the son. 

Underrated:  Ed Harris
Overrated:  This movie
Favorite character:  Tom Stall--Viggo Mortensen
Favorite scene:  The scene in their front yard where Viggo finally comes clean.  The action was awesome and the dramatic impact, for me, was exceptional. 

18:  Pride and Prejudice--Highly entertaining.  I want to be Donald Sutherland.  And frankly, Keira Knightley has earned her right to be a leading lady.  Basically, I thought the movie was great, entertaining, witty, and well-acted all around.  I didn't catch everything, because I am not adept at listening to people reading Jane Austen, but I understood most of it well enough to follow the story.  Not my favorite movie, but far from the worst. 

Underrated:  Chick flicks
Overrated:  Chick flicks
Favorite character:  Mr. Bennett--Donald Sutherland and Lizzie Bennett--Keira Knightley
Favorite scene:  When Donald Sutherland tells his wife that Lizzie should not marry that annoying guy. 

17.  The New World--I just recently fell in love with Terrence Malick.  I didn't really know who he was until this year and all the raves about The New World, but now I've seen almost all his work.  The New World is a great addition, because in Badlands and The Thin Red Line, he's such a naturalistic filmmaker.  The New World shows America, that is, the natural world of the New World, as practically its own character, and probably the most important.  Half the movie is silent, with only wondeful James Horner music playing over beautiful shots of the colonizers, the natives, and their world.  The side story, as I see it anyway, focuses on John Smith meeting and falling for Pocahontas, and later leaving as Pocahontas changes her name to Rebecca and marries John Rolfe.  The real story of Malick's vision is the clash of two long-separated races in a dangerous natural world, and The New World tells the historical encounter through such a brilliant showcase of direction that it's sad Malick forfeited his Oscar chances by taking The New World out of theaters. 

Underrated:  Terrence Malick
Overrated:  Birdsong--you'll see what I mean
Favorite character:  John Rolfe--Christian Bale
Favorite scene:  When the natives surprisingly bring the colonists food and blankets for the Winter, one which they would not have survived without the natives' generosity

16:  The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada--As much as I love westerns, it's only right that Three Burials kicks off the top fifteen (sic).  Basically, an illegal immigrant is accidentally shot by a border patrol guy, and then the immigrant's closest friend, Tommy Lee Jones, seeks proper burial for him in his hometown.  My favorite chapter was the First Burial, because of the extensive use of disjointed timelines and the wonderful characterizations of all the main players.  However, by the time you get to the final burial, you will be questioning everything up to that point.  It is quite expertly done, and after seeing the trailer on the big screen, I may decide to check this out in theaters, even though I've already seen it.  Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Pepper are both great, and the story is always entertaining. 

Underrated:  Westerns
Overrated:   Illegal immigration
Favorite character:  Pete--Tommy Lee Jones
Favorite scene:  Anything relating to the blind man.  He was such a great supporting character, reminiscent of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and his final words to Tommy Lee Jones turn very tragically dark.  Great work. 

15:  Junebug--Ebert and Roeper are in love with Junebug, and I mean really in love.  It's good, great even, just not the best.  Honestly, I probably liked this the most of our group that saw it, and I'm only giving it my fourteenth spot.  Anyway, it's about a southern family, a mother who takes an instant dislike to her son's fiancée, because of the simple fact that it is her son's fiancée, a father who is quiet until he's needed, retreating into his woodwork, but that retreating should never be mistaken for apathy.  And then there's the real star, Amy Adams, who plays the pregnant daughter who lives with her parents and her husband (Ben McKenzie) and is truly incredible.  I am so glad that she's getting recognition for this role.  Between Amy Adams and Crash, two awards-worthy shows that would never have received their just due in any other year, it just goes to show you that this is the year of the indie, and the times, they are a-changing. 

Underrated:  Indie films
Overrated:  Ebert and Roeper
Favorite character:  Ashley--Amy Adams
Favorite scene:  When Amy Adams first encounters her brother's fiancée and just starts up her motor-mouth.  It's so sweet and so innocent, that you can't help but fall in love with her right there. 

14:  King Kong--In one sense, this is the greatest movie to come out this year.  The performances are uniformly solid, the story is always engaging and truly dramatic, and the adventure and production hearken to the movies of old like Treasure of the Sierra Madre, or even Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The best part of the movie was Skull Island.  Peter Jackson really know how to give a place history, and King Kong has clearly had to earn his throne.  The acting was great, everything was great really.  My only real complaint is that it was too long.  Normally, I'm all for that, but not every movie deserves three hours to tell its story.  And by the time the planes took twenty minutes to shoot down Kong, I was waiting for the credits.  Fortunately, Jack Black's final words brought me back to that fantasy world of '30s cinema, and I had a truly memorable experience. 

Underrated:  Jack Black
Overrated:  Interspecies romance
Favorite character:  King Kong
Favorite scene:  When Jack Black, Adrien Brody, and Jamie Bell wake up in that crevasse and realize that they are not alone.  The action scenes of before have been replaced with true drama and intensity now that they are the only ones left. 

13:  Match Point--Match Point is incredible and doesn't even make the top10.  That just goes to show what a great year 2005 was for movies.  It's too bad this movie snuck by without garnering too much attention, other than fairly widespread critical acclaim.  Just like Big Fish and The New World, it snuck by right in the last week of 2005, and the main public never had a chance to fall in love with it.  Still, the movie was my first outing with Woody Allen, and one I will not soon forget.  Although not as great as Annie Hall, Match Point is just as intelligently dealt with, as its themes and motifs of tennis, opera, luck, and love work together so beautifully that it takes a man with real talent to realize their compatibility and work that into a movie.  I especially love that the main theme of the film is that people don't understand how large a role luck plays in their lives, and I have to agree.  Luck is huge, and it's amazing that we've gone this long without a major film saying so. 

Underrated:  Luck
Overrated:  Skill
Favorite character:  Chris Wilton--Jonathan Rhys Meyers.  Really, there's no good character in this one, so I picked him b/c he's so hot. 
Favorite scene:  Without a doubt that final part when they go back to Rhys-Meyers throwing the ring into the river, as it bounces off the pole.  It was so unexpected and so intense. 

12:  Capote--When watching a biopic, I can't help but ask, "Why did they make this movie?  I get that Elvis' is cool, but do I really need to see a story about his life from start to finish?"  It's like watching your junior high paper on Daniel Boone, where you included too much childhood and didn't really end it, because it's not a story, it's a real person's life, and it's hard to tie that together.  With Capote, I never once felt the movie unnecessary.  Though it seems like Director Bennett Miller only made the movie because Truman Capote is "the greatest American writer of the twentieth century," I felt there was a lot more to the movie.  A stern reprimand of our society, one that creates evil and then condemns it, and in that manner, Capote absolutely destroys Manderlay (another movie which attempted to relate the same theme).  And Phillip Seymour Hoffman has finally been given the lead role he deserves, and he came through brilliantly.  Catherine Keener as Harper Lee is another revelation, and my love for To Kill a Mockingbird only enhanced my love of Capote.  And the movie sped by.  I honestly could have watched more of Capote getting to know the murderers, because it kind of went from a "love at first sight" sort of thing to a deep mutual understanding, but I never really got to see all the implied offscreen getting-to-know-you meetings.  Still, Capote is exactly what I could have wanted, a small, smart, well-acted film

Underrated:  Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Overrated:  Biopics
Favorite character:  Perry Smith--Clifton Collins, Jr. 
Favorite scene:  When Capote's talking to his ambiguous boyfriend on the phone and the boyfriend says how he and Harper Lee having nothing in common, "except manliness." 

11:  Proof--Why do people have to jump on the hate-bandwagons?  You really have to stretch to dislike this movie so much that the bad outweighs the good.  Gwyneth Paltrow remains one of the most talented actresses, in my opinion, and her supporting cast is just as strong, led by Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Hope Davis.  The story is great, I mean, Pulitzer-worthy, not that that matters when you're trying so hard to hate a movie (ahem, Rent).  And the best part is, I really, truly cared about the characters.  What I'm trying to say is, don't let anyone dissuade you from seeing Proof, because it has been unfairly slighted and really is an excellent movie.  Did I really like it more than Capote, though?  More than King Kong?  Yep.  It was perfect in length, perfect in acting, I even felt the costumes were absolutely perfect for the characters and story.  In all, I can't wait to own this movie. 

Underrated:  Proof
Overrated:  Critics
Favorite character:  Duh, Hal--Jake Gyllenhaal
Favorite scene:  When you find out that the proof was written by Gwyneth...the first time

10:  The Constant Gardener--What a great movie.  As much as I love foreign politics, I was destined to love this upon seeing it.  It works as a thriller, it works as a political commentary, it even works as a tragic love story, and both Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz are phenomenal.  Additionally, I love Fernando Meireilles' directing style, particularly with the cultural transitions of the dancers or the landscape shots.  It's also great in that is draws attention to the continent most in need of help, in every way, Africa.  Finally, the gardening metaphor is beautiful as a conceit.  The Constant Gardener is brilliant. 

Underrated:  Realistic political thrillers
Overrated:  Tom Clancy
Favorite character:  Ralph Fiennes
Favorite scene:  When Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes first meet at his lecture, when she stands up and attacks him about America's actions in the third world. 

9:  Kiss Kiss Bang Bang--Undoubtedly one of, if not the, most underrated movie of the year.  I am so happy I got to see this before publishing this list, because I enjoyed the heck out of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  It's basically a film noir with a postmodern style...how do you like them apples?  In lamens terms, I mean it has the film noir story of a murder mystery and a detective and a main character who gets taken advantage of and whatnot.  The postmodern style is evident in its sarcastic narration, destroying the fourth wall, stylish flashbacks, and general feel.  Essentially, it's amazing.  It comes out on DVD soon, and I will definitely get it.  Is it honestly top 10 good?  To me, it is.  Not only did I love every second, but the characters were witty and endearing, I totally fell for the traps set by the plot, and at the ending, the characters declared, "If you're from the Midwest, sorry for all the times we said, "fuck.""  What's not to love about that? 

Underrated:  Film noir
Overrated:  A History of Violence
Favorite character:  Gay Perry--Val Kilmer...not b/c he's gay, just b/c he's hilarious
Favorite scene:   Oh my gosh, this is difficult, because almost every scene was too hilarious to choose one over the others.  Probably my favorite was the final chase sequence, including the shootout at the end, which was so amazing to see. 

8:  Batman Begins--So I really liked Batman Begins, sue me.  I think that the movie was pretty wonderful.  I was never bored, or bothered by someone's acting, or even overwhelmed.  The movie was brilliant, from start to finish, and I can't wait for the sequel.  Everyone's seen it, so I don't really need to gush any more.  But I will say this:  Christian Bale is hot. 

Underrated:  Comic book movies
Overrated:  People hating on Katie Holmes' acting
Favorite character:  Alfred--Michael Caine
Favorite scene:  When the very first guy on the dock disappears into the darkness when Batman attacks.  It was chilling and perfect. 

7:  Sin City--People assume because of the violence, sexuality, and language that this movie is little more than popcorn.  I figured that at least the black and white would blow that theory wide open.  The Sin City comics, and accordingly, the movie, are such brilliant works of literature that I would expect the majority of people to be opposed to them.  Not only are they incredibly smart, but they are incredibly entertaining, and the audience is never bored.  The acting ruled, because the cast ruled, and the writing ruled, because the comics rule.  Now I'm just embarrassing myself.  Sin City rocks.  That is all. 

Underrated:  Sin City
Overrated:  Jessica Alba
Favorite character:  Marv--Mickey Rourke
Favorite scene:  When Clive Owen is up on that wall, narrating as he and the girls destroy the mob.

6:  Good Night and Good Luck--Brilliantly entertaining discourse on the media, giving up civil rights in the name of security, and people sitting by letting this happen.  Just because McCarthy's out of the senate (and now dead), doesn't mean McCarthyism is dead.  It's going on right now, and Good Night and Good Luck, for that reason, is one of the most prescient works of the year.  The ending drug a little, but overall, the story was great, and that wasn't enough to detract from the whole film.  The cast were perfect for their parts, especially David Strathairn.  He rules as Ed Murrow, and his attack of McCarthy was brilliantly run.  Good Night and Good Luck is one of the most important and entertaining movies of the year. 

Underrated:  George Clooney
Overrated:  Limited releases
Favorite character:  Ed Murrow--David Strathairn
Favorite scene:  Murrow's second broadcast about McCarthy

5:  Munich--That Spielberg guy couldn't direct his way out of a cardboard box.  Unless you're counting Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, etc.  Munich is truly phenomenal, and I would love to see it again in theaters before it goes away.  I would also like to point out that just because it's at number 5, doesn't mean I didn't like it.  I loved it.  I just loved four more movies more.  That said, Munich is really quite brilliant.  It takes a fairly small event from history and uses it as an introduction point to the history of terrorism and cultural wars.  The final shot including the World Trade Center was a perfect touch.  Eric Bana and company were great, particularly toward the end.  My only complaint is that the ending didn't feel quite right.  I've heard people say that Spielberg has a problem with endings.  I'd never really noticed it, but upon leaving Munich, I felt the only thing that I didn't really care for was the ending, but I don't even really know why.  Nevertheless, I absolutely loved Munich, and for once, a two-and-a-half-hour movie sped by. 

Underrated:  Eric Bana
Overrated:  Terrorism
Favorite character:  Avner--Eric Bana
Favorite scene:  When Avner gets paranoid in his cottage...it was harrowing

4:  Jarhead--The second most underrated movie of the year and the surprise of the top 5.  Sue me.  I originally had Jarhead above Munich, but after several re-viewings of both films, I have moved Munich up (and considered moving it even higher, though probably not).  Still, the book of Jarhead is so incredible that I liked the movie even more, and I think Sam Mendes' symbols throughout the film and even on the poster are signs of his genius.  As I said in my earlier review, the main three actors are phenomenal in every scene, and the true tragedy is that none of them will be up for awards for Jarhead.  I don't even know what to say--Jarhead just really stayed with me for a long time, and I will be first in line for the DVD. 

Underrated:  Jarhead
Overrated:  Cutting out scenes from the movie that were in the trailer (like the near-suicide)
Favorite character:  Anthony Swofford--Jake Gyllenhaal and Troy--Peter Sarsgaard
Favorite scene:  When that veteran gets on their Welcome Home bus.  What a horribly tragic scene. 

3:  Crash--I had no idea what Crash was about going into the theater, even after seeing the trailer a few times.  On the way out of the theater, I had no idea what to say.  It was brilliant.  The writing was the first thing to strike me as particularly great, with Ludacris talking about being surrounded by "a sea of overcaffeinated white people."  I love it.  And frankly, the movie's treatment of racism is one of the truest displays I've seen on film.  The stories were all so intense and wonderful, and when they all reached their respective climaxes, I was repeatedly blown away, even when I thought it couldn't get better.  Sandra Bullock was my favorite actress, because I just wasn't really a fan of Thandie Newton.  And Jennifer Esposito, though she had some great lines, was more of a supporting role, not taking a journey of her own.  Of the guys, Matt Dillon was the best, hands down.  The Mexican guy was great as well, and Brendan Fraser and Don Cheadle too.  But I also didn't really like Terrence Howard.  The only reason Crash only made it to number three and not higher is because there were a couple characters and stories I had little interest in, and because of the slight ascendance into melodrama.  Still, Crash is definitely one of the best pictures of the year, and I wouldn't mind seeing it take home the gold. 

Underrated:  Sandra Bullock, Ludacris, and Matt Dillon
Overrated:  Terrence Howard
Favorite character:  The little Mexican girl, Shaneequa (don't live here no mo), Sandra Bullock, and Ludacris. 
Favorite scene:  Without a doubt when the Persian guy confronts the Mexican locksmith at his house.  I knew from the beginning that the invisible cape would make a reappearance, and I was terrified as to the potential consequences.  When everyone turned out okay, I was relieved and amazed by the brilliance of the writing all at the same time.  Second favorite:  When Sandra Bullock tells off her husband about the locksmith.  Brilliant. 

2:  Syriana--Syriana surprised me.  I wasn't expecting much, and it took that lack of confidence and proved itself tenfold.  Frankly, I can't believe something like Walk the Line or Capote is going to take Syriana's Oscar chances.  Whatever, we know in our hearts that Syriana is incredible.  Basically the story revolves around a Killeen, TX-based oil company merging with a multinational to create the world's 26th largest economy, a power struggle in Iran, and a CIA agent who may or may not become the fall guy.  It's an incredibly smart film, one that demands repeat viewings, but you will definitely understand at least the general picture the first time around.  With just the storytelling, through many characters in many interconnected stories, much like global politics, the movie displays its genius.  But it's the little things that bump it up to my second favorite of the year.  Things like Matt Damon's wife telling him to let his son work things out on his own because "it's important for his autonomy," an obvious reference to America's relationships with its subsidiaries, I mean, allies.  Things like George Clooney's son at a restaurant leaning over to a neighboring table and holding up their pepper shaker and saying, "Can we steal this?  Thanks."  Their table had none of a certain resource, and he was not ashamed to seek it out elsewhere.  How such little things can be so effective as microcosms of global interactions is astounding, and now I cannot wait to see other works by Stephen Gaghan, including Traffic. 

Underrated:  Corruption, apparently
Overrated:  Oil
Favorite character:  Prince Nasir--Alexander Siddig
Favorite scene:  While the corruption speech ("Corruption is why we win.") is really well-written and well-acted, my absolute favorite scene is when Matt Damon negotiates with the prince of Iran telling him exactly what he thinks of how Iran is run. 

1:  Brokeback Mountain--Katie keeps asking if I liked Munich or Syriana better, but the question is moot in the presence of Brokeback Mountain.  Frankly, this is the movie that stayed with me.  It's still there, even.  To me, it was perfect.  The performances, the direction, and most of all, the story.  Even the music, from when it first plays, to that final scene by Ennis' closet door.  This is the movie that deserves awards.  Up until a couple days ago, I thought it was going to go unrecognized.  Now it looks like the movie to beat for awards.  Heath Ledger was truly phenomenal, but I was unconvinced in its greatness until one of their final scenes at Brokeback.  Just after when Jack tells him, "I wish I knew how to quit you," and then Ennis looks down all teary-eyed, a first for him, and says, "Why don't you?"  That was the moment when I was sold on Ledger's greatness.  Gyllenhaal is just the most underrated man of the year, being snubbed as a lead for Brokeback, and with critical ambivalence on Proof and Jarhead, but he's truly fantastic in each role, especially here.  Of the supporting cast, Michelle Williams leads her team of casualties of the wake of Jack and Ennis' love with great affection, and I felt the worst for her out of the supporting cast.  But Anne Hathaway was the one that surprised me the most, because the critics are raving about Williams, but no one seems to mention Hathaway.  For her four or five scenes, she really puts her character through an incredible journey, from her slutty pick-up truck encounter to her cold-hearted accounting phone call.  Nothing about the entire movie rang false to me, and the timeliness is perfect.  No one benefits from a society that refuses to tolerate love.  I absolutely loved Brokeback Mountain, and want the DVD asap. 

Underrated:  Anne Hathaway
Overrated:  Sheep
Favorite character:  Jack Twist--Jake Gyllenhaal
Favorite scene:  Pick one.  The movie, to me, was perfect, and that's all that matters. 

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